Lazy postie busted again0:39

Delivery driver caught filmed placing "failed to deliver" slip in letterbox without approaching the day after card was slipped under door without knocking.

November 25th 2015

3 years ago

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Not the same postie. Picture: Darren EnglandSource:News Corp Australia

AN AUSTRALIA Post worker has sparked fierce debate online after leaving a series of increasingly annoyed “warning messages” on letters to a Melbourne homeowner.

“Please clean the area in front of your letterbox,” read the scribbled note on front of one letter to Johnson Ong, who posted the photos to the Australia Post Complaints Facebook group.

A second letter bore the message, “You need to clean the area in front of the letterbox. Not a small part. I have to ride through. There are rocks. All the front yard.”

A third letter came with an ultimatum. “Good morning,” it said. “I won’t be delivering anymore if front of yard is not clear 1m in front and 1m side of letterbox. Thank you.”

A final letter read, “Please last notice. Clean the area in front of letterbox.”

Mr Ong said his garden had looked the same for the past 12 years and the “warning messages” had only started within the past month. He agreed safety was “definitely very important”.

“Riding over nature strips in wet weather is not safe as it could be slippery, mud can get into his wheels, spreading to neighbours’ driveways,” he wrote. “Encouraging all riders or drivers to use [the] driveway is the safest for themselves and others.”

Mr Ong also posted screenshots of conversations with Australia Post. “Looking at the photo of your mailbox, the area around it is not clear,” a customer service representative wrote.

“I apologise if you think the driver is threatening you, however they are entitled to ride across nature strips. This is to ensure safe, accurate and fast deliveries.”

He began receiving these “warning messages”. Picture: Johnson Ong/FacebookSource:Facebook

He said his garden had looked the same for 12 years. Picture: Johnson Ong/FacebookSource:Facebook

“Your postie needs to have easy access to deliver your mail so your letterbox should be clearly in view and positioned on the boundary of your property, on the fence next to your driveway, or in a similar position with the number of your property clearly displayed,” the guidelines state.

“Please remember that your letterbox should be positioned in a spot that is clear of obstacles like trees, shrubs and rocks.”

The customer service rep said they had “still asked the delivery centre for clarification so when we get a response we will be in touch”.

“However I would recommend cleaning the front area and removing the shrubs that are obstructing the mailbox,” he wrote.

An Australia Post spokesman said, “We have apologised to the customer and are working with them to improve access to their letterbox. We’re glad that in this case we have been able to reach a satisfactory outcome.

“Posties are allowed to ride on the nature strip while delivering mail and for their own safety, require easy and safe access to letterboxes. We encourage them to report any access hazards to their manager who then works with the customer to fix the issue.”

Facebook users were split, with many defending the postie’s messages and others siding with the homeowner. “You want your mail delivered, make sure it is a safe place for the postie,” wrote one person. “After all it is his workplace and he deserves safety!”

Another said the postie wasn’t to blame, describing the state of the garden as “atrocious”. “It’s hardly atrocious, it’s a bit of fallen leaves,” another replied. “My kid could ride his tricycle safely over that, is your postie that frail?”

One said, “If he can’t find the letterbox he should hand in his licence or go to Specsavers.” Another added, “Holy s**t wouldn’t it be a massive crime to get off his fat lazy ass and get off the bike and do some work, walk a few steps and put the mail in the box?”

But one user pointed out that “you can be sued if the postie gets injured and you didn’t do anything to resolve the issue”. “At least the postie gave you some chance to fix it,” they wrote.

One person said they had a similar experience with a postie complaining that their letterbox was obstructed. “Our mail was getting dumped in a pot plant and not in our letterbox,” they wrote.

“We made a complaint and Australia Post closed it saying they took the postie’s position over us. I submitted a video showing the postie driving over my lawn, doing a turn in my garden and reversing to my letter box.

“In no way was he impeded in delivering my mail. Apparently he was put on ‘sick leave’ and a few days later someone knocked on my door. It was a rep from Australia Post apologising. My mail has been delivered in my mailbox since.”

It comes after a Central Coast man revealed how his wife was caught a postie red-handed urinating off their veranda. Ben Skinner said his wife took longer to get to the front door than planned and caught the Australia Post employee in the act of watering their garden.

“Let’s just say they were both shocked and embarrassed,” Mr Skinner said. “Then he tried to get her to sign for it with wee on his hands and his fly half down! I’m just glad the box was the only parcel he dropped off …”

An Australia Post spokeswoman said the urinating incident was “unacceptable and we apologise for any distress caused to our customer”. “We have reinforced our required standards with the driver and will take necessary action,” she said.